Chris Hillman – The Other Side. An excellent all acoustic CD that includes a version of "Eight Miles High" with Hillmans Lloyd Loar mandolin filling in for Roger McGuinn's 12 string Rickenbacker

Both CD's by a group called Hit and Run Bluegrass from Colorado. They have a woman in the band who is a fine flatpicker.

And a fine new CD from Mudcatter "Closet-Folkie" aka Steve Robinson. If there were such a thing as "Neo-retro" folk-rock music Steve nailed it. Some of the songs would not have been out of place on an early Beatles or Hollies record. One song { Goose Flesh } even reminded me of "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. AND he recored it in his living room. { Steve – I owe you a PM but my computer died awhile back }

A variety - the new Paul Mills CD - excellent, Paul Clayton's "Whaling and Sailing Songs" - great reissue, and the new tribute CD to Sly & The Family Stone. Sly makes his comeback tonight at the Grammy's (hopefully!)!!!!

Today while driving into the big city and back I listened to Phil Ochs "Pleasures Of The Harbor" which I had just transcribed from vinyl. I found it a quite interesting departure from his earlier protest type work. I must confess that when I first brought the LP home I played it once and said what the hell is that all about and put it away - I was expecting the protest singer/songwriter. On relisten I found beautifully written songs and melodies even though some of the arrangements are a little jarring - ragtime and dixieland style sound a little odd on Phil. I'm wondering if this album has been discussed here and what are your opinions of it.

Well, I did it again - gotta' remember to hit "tab" next time instead of "enter." My auto player currently has: Wolftones - two discs James Keelaghan - one disc Tom Russell - two discs Dave Mallett - one disc

I'm working on songs from each of those CD's so I jump around manually depending on what I feel like singing.

Pete Abbott - 'Against the wall' has been nearly worn out since I bought it on 27 Jan when he appeared (alongside Edwina Hayes) at Cottingham Live, in East Yorkshire. The diction and sentiments are very clear and Petes voice is easy to listen too. It makes me think of Billy Joel - but British. Kendalls post reminds me to put on Eric and Ralph but I'm sure I'll be back to Pete very soon ...he HAS to be heard! I've got John Denver lined up on my 'record player' too. H.

I've been seeing some local Big Bands recently which nudged me to revisit some of my Basie, Ellington & Herman recordings. I also got the complete Louis Hot 5 & Hot 7s on CD for Xmas (I've got them on LP of course)so I've been listening to them in higher fi! And I've been relistening to Trashcan Joe as well. RtS

"And a fine new CD from Mudcatter "Closet-Folkie" aka Steve Robinson. If there were such a thing as "Neo-retro" folk-rock music Steve nailed it. Some of the songs would not have been out of place on an early Beatles or Hollies record. One song { Goose Flesh } even reminded me of "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys. AND he recorded it in his living room."

Wesley S, thanks for the kind plug. Would you mind if I took the "Neo-Retro Folk-Rock" tag and ran with it? Brilliant. It's funny, I've heard the Graham Nash/Hollies comparison a few times and though it's not at all unflattering, I never really thought of him/them as influences. It could be worse--one radio guy said that my stuff made him think of Herman's Hermits(I've since forgiven him) You're right about "Gooseflesh"; it's a bit of a nod to Brian Wilson(ok, a lot). If anyone else fancies a listen to it, it's at the link below. By the way, my current listening includes Pete Yorn, Ron Sexsmith and plenty of John Shuttleworth. Cheers then, Steve R.

I think it was the second song on your CD that made me think - Hmm - What if the Hollies were some young guys that had just formed a band around 2002 ? It would have sounded alot like this.

Great stuff. I was expecting to like this based on what I heard from the Headlights but this is some of your best stuff. And there were some really nice production values if this was recorded in your living room. Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to your next one.

I've only recently got into bluesman Otis Rush and I've acquired a number of his cds. What a player! What a singer! Indeed, why bother listening to all those white guys singing and playing the blues when you hear the real deal!

1) Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation (barbershop which became a DC blues mecca--is now a music hall, museum and teaching facility--this is a blues CD to support it--and some of my friends are on it.)

2) Rhonda Vincent (starts with 3 songs by her that Jan and I are trying to learn)--then more bluegrass and country by lots of other singers. It's one I made from other CD's we have --and a few songs bought on I-tunes.

3) What a Singing There Will Be--Helen Schneyer. Wonderful--and there are about 4 songs I'm trying to learn

4) Corelli--Violin Sonatas--very warm and cozy

5) Grocery Unpacking Music--another CD I made from CD's I have and from I-tunes. Lots of Shania Twain--great for unpacking groceries. Also Dixie Chicks, Kendalls, Freddy Fender. Yes, I do listen to it also after the groceries are unpacked.

I finally have what I need to transfer vinyl to CD, so I'm listening to stuff I haven't listened to in at least ten years: Charlie Monroe, Charlie Moore and Bill Napier, Sam and Kirk McGee, the Crook Brothers, Stringbean, Lydia Mendoza, Benny and Vallie Cain.

See the guy walking into the barber shop on the cover of the CD??? That's me... I'm the one with the hat...

I'm still a little peeved that they didn't include the one song I recorded for the CD but, at the time I'd only been playing there about two years and all the folks who got featured had been playing there 10 years or more...

When I complain, they all delight in telling me I "am" on the CD... Hahaha...

AS we're off the Greece next week mine has Greek language CDs! But Humphrey Lyttelton, Lillian Boutte and Sonny Black CDs displaced them last night when friends came round who'd been to all 3 acts with us in the past.